Let’s be honest, jeans can be stiff and uncomfortable, and for years I’ve opted for looser flared trousers and leggings over denim. However, nothing quite matches jeans in terms of versatility, so I’m always on the lookout for a comfortable pair that I can wear with anything.
I hadn’t tried Uniqlo for jeans before but have long been a fan of its comfortable, practical basics like t-shirts, vests, its thermal tops and jackets for winter, plus there’s the viral cross-body bag.
I thought I’d give a pair a go and went for the £34.99 Drapey Wide Flare Jeans; I prefer a wide-leg, and while my preference has been for high-waisted jeans in the past, I was keen to try a mid-waist style, which I hoped would be comfortable on my stomach too.
My first impression was good and it was the softness of these that stood out. They’re made from a cotton and lyocell blend, which isn’t necessarily an unusual composition for jeans but these are softer than any I’ve tried before. While the fabric is thinner, the jeans don’t hold you as much as rigid pairs might do, but I’m willing to overlook this as it means they’re far less restrictive to move around in.
I could wear these all day, and I wouldn’t even be adverse to wearing them at home, which is something I’ve never been able to say about any pair of jeans.
The legs flare out just below the knee, something which I didn’t even notice until I put them on, but it does add some shape to the baggier look. The waist is also fitted, giving a lengthening effect. At 5ft 7, extra height isn’t a necessity for me, but I definitely won’t say no to a bit of leg-lengthening.
The Uniqlo jeans come in 22-34 inch waist, and there are 29, 31 and 33-inch leg lengths. For me, the 29-inch was ideal but if there isn’t a length that works for you, Uniqlo does offer a free alteration service that you can organise when you buy online
Opt for ‘visible alterations’ at checkout and choose how much you’d like your jeans shortened (I’d advise basing this on pairs you already own). If you do opt for alteration, there’s no change to the £3.99 delivery cost, but you will need to expect up to two extra days for delivery.
I like the fact there are four colour choices – grey, cream and two blue tones – and I opted for the grey shade as I don’t have any jeans in this colour, plus I thought they would work for an evening outfit. I’ve started wearing the Drapey Wide Flare Jeans already and so far I’ve paired them with a blazer and boots for a meal out, and with jumpers and trainers in the daytime.
I can see myself getting regular wear out of them because not only do they go with most outfits, but they’re also the most comfortable jeans I’ve ever tried.
At £34.99, the jeans are reasonably priced too, especially as high street pairs often cost over £40, and I could even buy another pair at that price – the cream shade would go well with pastel colours for spring.
For an alternative to the Uniqlo pair, the High-Rise Dad Jeans from Hollister are also a reasonably thin denim, making them fairly comfortable, although they’re not quite as soft os Uniqlo’s. I also tried a couple of options from ASOS, which would be okay for some, but were still more stiff than I wanted.
